WASHINGTON — President Trump moved to further isolate his former chief strategist on Friday, following a chaotic 48 hours leading up to the release of a tell-all book that Stephen Bannon helped to facilitate.

"Sloppy Steve" is Trump's new Twitter insult for his former campaign executive, whose ideas of economic nationalism and anti-Muslim worldview formed the philosophical core of Trump's campaign for president.

The two men appeared to be publicly cordial until Wednesday, when a British newspaper published excerpts of a book by author Michael Wolff quoting Bannon at length. Bannon was quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting between a Russian lawyer and top Trump campaign officials – including the president's son Donald Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner – as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."

"I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist. Look at this guy’s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!" Trump tweeted earlier Friday.

The Mercers still could remain influential figures in politics – and a threat to establishment congressional candidates in November’s midterm elections — even as Bannon is sidelined. For instance, the Mercer family already has donated about $500,000 to a super PAC launched to help Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel, in his primary challenge against Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, PAC officials say.